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Studies

Garber (1971): study US California 1970

Publication

Author(s):
Garber, D.L.
Title:
Retired Soldiers in Second Careers: Self-Assessed Change, Reference Group Salience, and Psychological Well-Being.
Source:
Unpublished PhD Dissertation, University of Southern California, 1971, USA

Investigation

Public
Middle-aged, presently employed army retirees, California, USA, 1970
Sample
Respondents
N = 362
Non Response
63% of which 21% no return of questionnaire, 13% incomplete and 29% refusal
Assessment
Questionnaire: Paper & Pencil Interview (PAPI)
Mailed questionnaire

Happiness Measure(s) and Distributional Findings

Full text:
Self report on 10 questions:

During the past few weeks, did you ever feel ....?  (yes/no)
A   Particularly excited or interested in something?
B   So restless that you couldn't sit long in a chair?
C   Proud because someone complimented you on something  
     you had done?
D   Very lonely or remote from other people?
E   Pleased about having accomplished something?
F   Bored?
G   On top of the world?
H   Depressed or very unhappy?
I    That things were going your way?
J    Upset because someone criticized you?

Answer options and scoring:
yes = 1
no  = 0
Summation:
-Positive Affect Score (PAS): A+C+E+G+I
-Negative Affect Score (NAS): B+D+F+H+J
-Affect Balance Score (ABS): PAS minus NAS
Possible range: -5 to +5

Name: Bradburn's 'Affect Balance Scale' (standard version)
Classification:
A-BB-cm-mq-v-2-a
Author's label:
Psychological well-being.
Observed distribution
Summary Statistics
On original range -5 - 5 On range 0-10
Mean:
5.97 6.20
SD:
- -

Correlational Findings

Author's label Subject Description Finding Self-perceived increase in occupational prestige Advancement in current job
Post-retirement job
Self-perceived amount of change in occupation Post-retirement job Military reference group salience aftermilitary retirement Perceived effects of change in military life
Self-definition in terms of earlier job
Increase in occupat-ional prestige aftermilitary retirement Perceived effects of change in military life Self-perceived amount of change in occupational role Perceived effects of change in military life Civilian reference group salience aftermilitary retirement Perceived effects of change in military life
Self-definition in terms of earlier job